Florida tourism industry to receive boost from new events center

Aug 07, 2017

The Westin Cape Coral Resort has already begun booking events for its new, $15 million Tarpon Point Ballroom, The News-Press reported.

Construction continues on the ballroom, which will host meetings and events and is set to open in six months. According to the Cape Coral Economic Development Office, the new, 30,000 square foot space will bring 15,000 new visitors to the vicinity each year, will generate $30 million for the local economy in the first three years and will create 33 full-time jobs.

While the resort currently has a room for functions, it only seats 200 people, while the new space will be able to seat up to 1,400 people theater-style, the source noted.

In other state tourism news, 12 industry groups recently ended co-advertising partnerships with Visit Florida, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

The organizations, which included the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau and Visit Tamp Bay, decided to end their agreements due to uncertainty about a new law which calls for disclosure of the incomes of local tourism board members who do not receive pay but have income from full-time, private-sector jobs, the source explained.